Display strip

ABSTRACT

A display strip includes a strip of material having a top portion with a hole, an intermediate adhesive portion attached to a first package, and a lower portion with second attachment structure (such as a tab or overlapping tabs) adapted to engage the hole on an identical second package. By this arrangement, the plurality of product can be hung in series, with each successive product hanging from an adjacent one of the product. A related method includes hanging a plurality of product in a serial vertical arrangement where each successive product hangs from an adjacent one of the product. By this arrangement, a lowest one of each successive product can be removed from the above-adjacent product. Alternatively, the product selected for removal can be spaced above a bottom one of the plurality of product, such that more than one of the product is removed from the vertical arrangement for purchase.

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/808,393, filed May 25, 2006, entitled DISPLAYCLIP STRIP.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to display strips, and methods ofattaching and displaying product along strips, such as at the end of anaisle, from a shelf, or from a wall.

Display strips are often used to display product at the ends of aislesor along shelves and walls in retail stores. Traditionally, a strip ofmaterial is die-cut to include multiple vertically-spaced tabs, or isformed to include multiple vertically-spaced adhesive attachmentlocations. A top of the strip is attached to a shelf with the striphanging downwardly, and product is attached to each of the tabs oradhesive attachment locations. This creates a highly visible display ofproduct, and allows customers to easily pull off product one at a timefor purchase. However, a strip that is only partially filled withproduct has a poor appearance, which can reduce sales of product.Another problem is that customers may pull off product from a middle ofthe display, resulting in unsightly gaps between the product on thedisplay strip. It is desirable to provide a system where product can besupported in a vertically-arranged display without the distraction andpoor appearance caused by half-empty display strips. It is furtherdesirable to provide a system that causes customers to pull off thebottom one of the product being displayed. Also, it is desirable toprovide a system where store employees can restock product onto thedisplay as needed. Still further, it is desirable to have a systemwhere, if the store does not want product hung in a strip, they stillcan have an apertured tab available on the product for hanging theproduct for display (i.e. individually).

Thus, a system having the aforementioned advantages and solving theaforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a display strip includes arelatively short strip of material having a top portion with firstattachment structure, an intermediate portion adapted for attachment toa first package, and a lower portion with second attachment structureadapted to engage the first attachment structure on an identical secondpackage.

In a narrower aspect, the intermediate portion includes adhesive.

In another narrower aspect, the first attachment structure is a hole.

In still another narrower aspect, the second attachment structureincludes at least one tab. It is contemplated that the second attachmentstructure can also include an overlapping tab that provides an increasedretention strength over a non-overlapped tab.

In another aspect of the present invention, a display system includes aplurality of product each having a strip of material attached near a topthereof, with one of the product and the strip having a hole near a topof the product and with the strip having a tongue configured to engagethe hole of an adjacent one of the plurality of product. By thisarrangement, the plurality of product can be hung in series, with eachsuccessive product hanging from an adjacent one of the product.

The present invention also includes a method comprising steps ofproviding a plurality of product, and hanging the plurality of productin a serial vertical arrangement where each successive product hangsfrom an adjacent one of the product.

In a narrower aspect, the method includes a step of removing a lowestone of each successive product from the above-adjacent product.

In still another narrower aspect, the method includes a step of removinga selected one of the product, the selected one being spaced above abottom one of the plurality of product such that more than one of theproduct is removed from the vertical arrangement.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present inventionwill be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art uponstudying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display strip embodying the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the display strip attached to a productpackage.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a plurality of the product shown in FIG. 3 butattached in a vertical serial arrangement, with each successive productbeing hung from an adjacent product.

FIG. 4 is a front view of another display strip.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a plurality of product each having thedisplay strip of FIG. 4 and hung in a vertical serial arrangement.

FIG. 6 is a front view of another display strip.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plurality of product each having thedisplay strip of FIG. 6 and hung in a vertical serial arrangement.

FIG. 8 is a front view of another display strip.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a product having the display strip ofFIG. 8 attached to the product, and that is capable of being hung in avertical serial arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A display strip 20 (FIG. 1) includes a strip of material having a topportion 21 with attachment structure (such as a hole or aperture 22), anintermediate portion 23 with adhesive material 24 thereon having abonding strength sufficient for secure attachment to a firstproduct/package 25 (FIG. 2), and a lower portion 26 with a secondattachment structure (such as a tab 27) adapted to engage the hole 22 onan identical second package 25 (FIG. 3). The strip 20 can be any size,shape and thickness suitable for attachment to and for supporting aparticular product. For example, it can be 1½″ by 3¾″ of 0.5 mm thickclear plastic material commonly used for display strips. Notably, thestrip material can be increased in thickness or stiffness for heavierproduct, . . . or reduced in thickness and strength for lighter weightproduct. The illustrated top aperture 22 is about 1¾″ wide by ⅜″ high,and the mating tab 27 is about 1″ long by ¼″ wide. The patch of adhesiveis about ¾″ high, and extends a full width of the strip 20.

It is contemplated that the first attachment structure is not limited toonly a hole or aperture. For example, it could include a tab or strip ofmaterial, or multiple holes, or a peg . . . or simply a flat surface forattachment by adhesive (i.e., where the second attachment structure isan outwardly-facing patch of adhesive). It is contemplated that thesecond attachment structure may (or may not) include overlapping tabs28, and may include other attachment structure, such as theoutwardly-facing adhesive discussed above.

By this arrangement, the plurality of product 25 (FIG. 3) can be hung inseries, with each successive product hanging from an adjacent one of theproduct. A related method includes hanging a plurality of product in aserial vertical arrangement (FIG. 3) where each successive product hangsfrom an adjacent one of the product. By this arrangement, as shown inFIG. 3, a lowest one of each successive product 25 can be removed fromthe above-adjacent product 25. Alternatively, it is noted that theproduct 25 selected for removal can be spaced above a bottom one of theplurality of product, such that more than one of the product will beconveniently removed by the customer with a single pulling motion fromthe vertical arrangement for purchase.

Additional embodiments are shown below. In each embodiment, identical orsimilar features and characteristics are identified using similarnumbers, but with the addition of a letter “A” or “B” or the like. Thisis intended to reduce redundant discussion, and not for another purpose.

The display strip 20A (FIG. 4) includes a strip of material having a topportion 21A with attachment aperture 22A, an intermediate portion 23Awith adhesive material 24A, and a lower portion 26A with an attachmenttab 27A. The illustrated strip 20A is similar to strip 20, but the tab27A is about 1″ wide. This creates a more stable engagement of the tab27A with the aperture 22A (FIG. 5), since the edges of the tab 27Aapproximately abut the edges of the aperture 22A. Notably, the edges ofthe tab 27A are slightly angled to facilitate insertion into the matingaperture 22A.

The display strip 20B (FIG. 6) includes a strip of material having a topportion 21B with attachment aperture 22B, an intermediate portion 23Bwith adhesive material 24B, and a lower portion 26B with a pair ofattachment tabs 27B. The illustrated strip 20B is similar to strips 20and 20A, but an overlapping tab 28B is provided between the tabs 27B.This creates a more stable engagement of the tab 27B with the aperture22B (FIG. 7), since the overlapping tab 28B holds product downwardly onthe tabs 27B.

The display strip 20C (FIG. 8) includes a strip of material having anintermediate portion 23C with adhesive material 24C, and a lower portion26C with an attachment tab 27C. However, the top portion (21) iseliminated. Instead, the “top portion” with attachment aperture 22C isformed in the product packaging material itself. This is possible wherethe product packaging is stiff enough and structurally strong enough tosupport the weight of multiple product hung in a vertical serialarrangement. The illustrated strip 20C has a tab 27C similar to strip20.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made onthe aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of thepresent invention, and further it is to be understood that such conceptsare intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claimsby their language expressly state otherwise.

1. A display strip comprising: a relatively short strip of materialhaving a top portion with first attachment structure, an intermediateportion adapted for attachment to a first package, and a lower portionwith second attachment structure adapted to engage the first attachmentstructure on an identical second package.
 2. The display strip definedin claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion includes adhesive.
 3. Thedisplay strip defined in claim 2, wherein the first attachment structureis a hole.
 4. The display strip defined in claim 3, wherein the secondattachment structure includes at least one tab.
 5. The display stripdefined in claim 4, wherein the second attachment structure includes asecond tab overlapping the at least one tab.
 6. The display stripdefined in claim 1, wherein the first attachment structure is a hole. 7.The display strip defined in claim 1, wherein the second attachmentstructure includes at least one tab.
 8. The display strip defined inclaim 7, wherein the second attachment structure includes a second taboverlapping the at least one tab.
 9. A display system comprising: aplurality of product each having a strip of material attached near a topthereof, one of the product and the strip having a hole near a top ofthe product and the strip having a tongue configured to engage the holeof an adjacent one of the plurality of product, whereby the plurality ofproduct can be hung in series, with each successive product having froman adjacent one of the product.
 10. A method comprising steps of:providing a plurality of product; and hanging the plurality of productin a serial vertical arrangement where each successive product hangsfrom an adjacent one of the product.
 11. The method defined in claim 10,including a step of removing a lowest one of each successive productfrom the above-adjacent product.
 12. The method defined in claim 10,including a step of removing a selected one of the product, the selectedone being spaced above a bottom one of the plurality of product suchthat more than one of the product is removed from the verticalarrangement.